Body work Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Jesus himself, and most of the message of the Gospels, is a message of service to the poor, a critique of the rich and the powerful, and a pacifist doctrine. And it remained that way, that's what Christianity was up... until Constantine. :Constantine shifted it so the cross, which was the symbol of persecution of somebody working for the poor, was put on the shield of the Roman Empire. It became the symbol for violence and oppression, and that's pretty much what the church has been until the present.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Politics of Language, 1975
The Gospels originally advocated service to the poor and pacifism, but Constantine transformed the cross into a symbol of empire and oppression.
In simple terms: Christianity shifted from service to power symbolism.
Key Takeaway
Beware how political power can co‑opt spiritual symbols.
Themes
religion
power
co‑option
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
historical
theological
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- political movements
- social justice activism
Key Concepts
theology
political symbolism
historical revisionism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do religious symbols evolve over time?
- Can faith retain its original ethic under state power?
A Different Perspective
The analysis may oversimplify complex historical developments.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
